Well derrick substructure



June 5, 1945. r .1. D. MEwEN 2,377,705

WELL DERRICK SUBSTRUCTURE Filed Aug. '20, 1941 s Sheet s-Sheet 1 John D. M Ewen June 5, 1945.

J. D. M EWEN WELL DERRI GK SUBSTRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 20, 1941 J dhn DQ MCEWBII WMWM June 5, 1945.

J. D. M EWEN WELL DERRICK SUBSTRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 20, 1941 John D. McEwen Patented June 5, 1945 UNITED STATES WELL DERRICK SUBSTRUCTURE JohnD. McEwen, Pasadena, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The International Derrick & Equipment Company, Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 20, 1941, Serial No. 407,573;

,4 Claims.

This invention relatesgenerally to well drillmg equipment and is more particularly directed to improvements in the construction oi'derricks employed in the drilling of wells.

In most instances when wells are to be drilled, derricks are first constructed over the locations for the wells and these derricks include foundation members which are usually of concrete or other suitable material having the requisite strength and wear-resisting qualities. Upon the foundation, a four-sided pyramidal derrick structure is erected, usually from timbers or structural. steel beams and angles. At" the lower end ofthe derrick and over the foundation, asubstructure, is provided for supporting the floor and the mechanism used in drilling the well. The actual drilling mechanism may be of various types, each of which possesses considerable weight and imposes a great load on the substructure when the well casing is suspended there from.

Also, in the drilling operations, large quantities of drill, pipeare employed, this being stored within the derrick, until used, by being placed on end on the derrick floor and extended upwardly into the derrick. After the well has been "brought in, part of the mechanism is removed and pumping apparatus, which is comparatively light in weight, is provided in place thereof. It is necessary at the time the substructure is built to make the same sufiiciently strong to support the great weight of the drilling apparatus, but when the relatively lighter weight pumping mechanism is substituted for the other appara-' tus, the substructure has many times the strength needed. V

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a substructure having a plurality of independent parts, all of which may be constructed with the requisite strength to perform their intended functions and certain. of which may be removed and transferred to the location of new wells upon the completion of the drilling operations a a It is also an object of the invention to provide a derrick substructure -formed from a plurality of structural beams and girders upon which the derrick floor and other well-drilling and activating mechanisms may :be supported, the portions of the substructure provided for the reception of the drilling apparatus and easing holding means being constructed :from members having strength in proportion to the weight of the drilling apparatus and the loads incident to the operation of such apparatus, the latter portions of the substructure being relatively independent from the balancethereof in order that it may be readily removed atthe timethedrilling table is removed,

, thatis, after the drilling operation has been completed. a x

A further object resides in providing novel re- ,enforced pedestal means for carrying the relatively heavy girders which furnish the support for the rotary table or other drilling mechanism and the wellcasing, the girder supporting means providing for the transmission of vibratory forces, created during the drilling operation, directly to the foundation without requiring such forces to pass through the derrick legs and into the l5 footings provided at the lower ends thereof.

lowing description and the accompanying drawings in wh ch a substructure embodying the features ofthe present invention has been illustrated in detail. 7 a

In the drawings: Fig. his a plan view of the substructure forming the present invention; a a

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional View taken on the plane indicated by the line IIII OfFlgZ'IT; '1

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on theplane indicated by the line III-III of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view looking in the direction indicated by the arrow IV in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the substructure;

Fig. 6 is a plan View of the substructure after the casing support has been removed therefrom; Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of amodified form of casing support;

Fig. 8 is a side elevati-onal view of the form of easing support shown in Fig. 7.

description, the :axis running vertically in Fig. 1 will be termed the length of the substructure; the transverse axis being termed the width.

. Adjacentthe center of the substructure, a plurality, of. relatively :;large concrete blocks 4 are Other objects will be apparent from the fol- Referring more particularly to the drawings,

square when viewed in plan but, for purposes of a gaging plates 8 through which securing:elements:-

'9 pass to hold the plates and the columns rigidly in place on the foundation; Diagonal braces I? extend between certain of tlie 'columns and serve -1 to,leenfo1ce the columns and prevent lateral) movement at the upper ends thereof.

Adjacent the central portion: of: theilongitudit nally extending beams 5, the transversely extend-r To prevent lateral movement of the columns 2 I, due to the heavy loads imposed on the girders 24, wing-like webs 28 are connected with the inner sides of the columns 2| and the feet 22. The framework thus formed is further strengthened by securing plates 29 to the feet 22 and the lower flanges of the girders 24 and connecting angle? members 39" at their. ends with the plates 29? Bytliisconstruction' atable-like support is provided for the reception of the rotary drilling "apparatus and the well casing which is held by therapparatus: in the operation of lowering the easing into the well bore.

. It will be notedfi om the various figures in the drawing th'atrthe' framework I9 is substantially free; fromienga'gem'ent with the remaining portions of the substructure and may be independing lower beams include relatively shortsections 2 H and: I 2 and 'terminate'in spaced: relation-from.- thei longitudinal axis: of the: substructure: desig;- nated zbyvthezline" X-.-X; on: Fig; 1: Q Thebeams- I 2 I v are composedof;structuralimembersihaving great er strength than the beam sections II and serve: to strengthen" the; derrick floor: in: their: location, the: floor: at this; point receiving; the drill pipe: stored. in the .derrick pridmto being used; in; the:- operation of drilling i the: well. Ailarge: quantity oft'drill pipe'is'rgenerally usedand. therefore the: sections-fl 2must5be of: greatzstrength to withstand the'concentrate'dload;. The: edges of thesnbstructure areiprovidedxwithi channel. members I3E.which terminatevin spaced: relatio'n'wfrom the.:corners :liOI-iIGCBlVGEZIId bGjQiHQd. with the corner: legs'r I4-= of; the 1 derrick; said? legs being securediatxtheir lowerlendsntozifooting mem-= bers I5 fastened? in: anyisuitable; manner: to the: piers 1 3L Brace? bars; I 6; extend. from the footing; members I5 to the channel membersand serveitor strengthen the same and preventlrelativecmovem'ent during the operation; of: the? derrick. Sill members H are providedzlonitherupper-flangeseofi the beams-5: andzreceive: thettransversely extending planks I87 which: constitute. the :floor: of; the: derrick The marginal beams I3, shown? atithe. bottom' of Fig. 1,. are? parted" or: formed in: two sections, thus providing. an: aislez wayi on entrance" in the front of the structure for access-affording;

; plurality offpedestalwmembers. 2Z0 havingwerti cally extendingicolumns 2 I providedatitheirlower: ends.=witn:laterally extending-"feet 22.- Theaupperl ends OfithEiGOlllIIlIlS. 2 I' receiveszandf support 1at-- erally extending I1--bea'-ms 23" which; .insturni re ceivez longitudinally extending? girder: members: 24 The end: portions-off the i'gird'er members 24 restonithe; L-b'eams'; 23; and ares-suitably'securedi theretoinispacedirelatiom- To maintain this-.rela' tion,.. plurality of: crossI-shaped braces* 25% are:

I se'curedt'o' inclined. plates; 26:carried by.-'thez'webs 2.1: ofithei. girderssadjacente the-end1portions i .entiy removed-therefrom after the drilling opera-' tions have been completed. When the frameworkli! is in position adjacent the well bore, the short; and demountablee longitudina'lly extending beam. sectionsxlia' are: supporteda-thereby buttafter theyframework; orr casing support: I9hasebeen1re moved, suitable columns mayb provided to retceive? the: sections: 511 in: order: that; theyfi will furnish; sufiicienti support for their derrick: floor: in the: vicinity of 1 the": longitudinal axis; ofi the; substructure. Itt-Willbe seen .thattwhenitheabeami sections- 5a.v.arer disconnected: fromi thee frame: structure; a substantially rectangular opening' i'ss providedvthereiniwhicnpermitsiofireadyrremovall ofathe; unitsioff the framework-or casingzsupporti I9.- by;lifting:the:samexthrough said opening; The; casing? support is capable; of: considerable:

' modification:suchas has beenillustratedcin' Eigsa:-

'7 1 and 83 wherein theslateral'ly extending feetfhaveE been; omitted andwthe: columns-v 2 Ia r'e'enfbrced'i against;- lateral movement by? X-bracing 3 I In? this-form: the plate-$29 and the?brace: 3.0. are als'oi' provided: to; increase the: rigidity of: the: frame; structure. From: the: foregoing; it. will be' app'arent thatla substructurei has -.be'en'. provided-Which includesiai plurality" of; independentrframg units, certaini of. which: ares constructed of relatively-heavy strongl parts cap-ablerofiwithsbanding:severe strains dur ing; the? drillingroperatiom These? parts are re mova'blesfrom :the balanceiofthe"substructurei and:

may therefore? be! transferred toi a i new" location} thuszdecreasingthe'z initial cost: of th zgapparatus necessary in dril1ing:subsequent1wells. supporttfori the rotary drilling apparatus: is. in dependent of?v the balance of the substructure; the? loadstandxvibratory forces'incident to the drilling operation:willrbertransmitted directly to the founa dation of the derrick without passing through-the: corner? l'egsi and: the piers: on which they: are

supported:

While the; substructure may be: modified in: manycways; ittisdesiredtotreserve-the right'to all suchmo'difications as may'beembraced 'within thei scope of thezfollowingiclaimsf whattisic'laimed is: I

l. A substructure for Welllderrickszcomprising a framework having? a group of relatively spaced longitudinally: extending beams; a second group: oft? relativelysp'a'ced'ibeamsarranged imime'diately. below the. beams of the-first" group't'o support 'the latter; the: beam's offi the secondgrouptbeingfdisa posed; at right: angles to." the beams of the: first group; the: beams of: the second group adjacent tortheiintermediate portions of. the: beams off thei firstugroupi being: in :short' length iSeCtlOIISIiIITOIdGI- to iterminateinrspaced arel'ationlfrom th'e center'gofi cframew kto; provide an zelonsatedlopeninga Since the I therein, the beams of the second group arranged adjacent to the ends of the beams of the first group extending continuously and without interruption from side to side of the framework, and

well casing supporting means arranged below and in vertical registration with said opening, said means being substantially unconnected with the e rest of the substructure and independently reand a second group of spacedbeams arranged immediately below the beam of the first group to support the latter and extending at right angles thereto, a foundation, spaced columns arising from said foundation for effecting the support of said beams in horizontal planes; the beams formof shorter length than the beams comprising the outer portions of said second group, and the beams of the upper group being spaced apart at the center of the framework, whereby to form an opening in the center of said framework, and an independently mounted removable well casing supporting meansmounted on said foundation below said beams and in vertical registration Withsaid opening.

3. A substructure for Well derricks comprising a foundation, a rectangular horizontally disposed frame structure consisting of a plurality of rigidly united relatively spaced longitudinally and transversely extending beams, the transversely extendingbeams at the central region of said frame work being of shorter length than the transverse beams forming the outer portion of said frame work, and the longitudinally extending beams be ing spaced apart at the center of the frame work whereby to provide in the center of the frame posed columns having their lower ends attached to said foundation and their upper ends joined with said frame work to effect the support of j the latter in a horizontal plane above saidfoun dation, and a well casing supporting frame structure mounted on said foundation independently of the aforesaid frame work below and in vertical registration with said opening, the well casing structure being removable supporting frame through said opening.

4. A substructure for Well derricks comprising a foundation, a rectangular horizontally disposed frame structure consisting of a plurality of rigidly united relatively spaced longitudinally and transversely extending beams, the transversely extending beams at the central region of said frame work being of shorter length than the transverse ing the central regions of said second group being 1 beams forming the outer portion of said frame work, and the longitudinally extending beams being spaced apart at the center of the frame work 1 whereby to provide inthe center of the frame work on elongated opening, spaced vertically disposed columns having their lower ends attached to said foundation and their upper ends joined with said frame work to effect the support of the latter in a horizontal plane above said foundation, supplementary shorter length beams de mountably joined to said outer portion of said frame work and having their innermost ends spaced apart at the region of said elongated opening, and a well casing supporting frame structure mounted on said foundation independently of the removed.

aforesaid frame workbelow and in vertical registration with said'opening, the well casing supporting frame structure being removable through said opening, when said supplemental beams are JOHN D. McEWEN. 

